On May 1, Kara Erickson gave birth to a healthy baby girl and then handed her over to Josep Antonio Castell贸 Ca帽adas, a man she害羞草研究所檇 met only once before in Las Vegas.
In the fall of 2016, while at an industry trade show, Erickson, who co-owns Chilliwack害羞草研究所檚 , had a chance encounter with Nathan Chan, the managing director of in Calgary. The two害羞草研究所攚ho connected over their shared stillbirth and loss doula training害羞草研究所攂egan talking about egg donation and surrogacy, which Chan害羞草研究所檚 firm specializes in, and Erickson said she felt like she could be of help.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檇 always wanted to be a surrogate,害羞草研究所� said 28-year-old Erickson in April, while rubbing her very pregnant belly. 害羞草研究所淏ut I never pursued it害羞草研究所攊t was more like if somebody I knew needed somebody to carry for them I could do it.害羞草研究所�
But it wasn害羞草研究所檛 until Chan planted the thought did she consider doing it for a stranger.
A single mother to two boys already, Erickson knew she enjoyed pregnancy and that, based on past experiences, she wouldn害羞草研究所檛 develop any complications to worry about. 害羞草研究所淚 knew I was a good candidate and a few months (after meeting Chan), I agreed that yes, I would love to become a surrogate.害羞草研究所�
Because current Spanish laws prohibit any form of surrogacy within Spain, Josep Ca帽adas felt his only option to become a father was to seek an international surrogate.
害羞草研究所淚n Spain, I害羞草研究所檓 no couple, I害羞草研究所檓 single, so not possible, the surrogate,害羞草研究所� said Ca帽adas in broken English. 害羞草研究所淚n Canada, it害羞草研究所檚 possible for me.害羞草研究所�
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In October 2016, after a quick Google search and a few clicks, Ca帽adas found himself in contact with Chan, who agreed his company could be of service to Ca帽adas, who害羞草研究所檚 a single gay man. So after the exchange of some information, and agreeing to proceed, Ca帽adas received a copy of Erickson害羞草研究所檚 surrogate profile, which he really liked.
Just before Christmas 2016, Erickson and Ca帽adas both flew to Las Vegas so they could meet and discuss the business of making a baby for Ca帽adas.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a communication barrier,害羞草研究所� explained Erickson. 害羞草研究所淪o there was a lot of gesturing and Google Translate.害羞草研究所� But that was enough. While discussing everything they wanted to achieve during the process, the two made a connection and Erickson agreed to be Ca帽adas害羞草研究所檚 surrogate after speaking to her family about it.
And although Canada害羞草研究所檚 surrogacy laws are more open than Spain害羞草研究所檚, there are still many restrictions to overcome, such as the hurdle of being chosen害羞草研究所攅ven in Canada, many surrogate agencies choose to only work with married couples害羞草研究所攁nd the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, which permits surrogacy only if it害羞草研究所檚 altruistic.
Any compensation or reimbursement for surrogates outside of approved expenses directly related to the pregnancy is illegal. Which means although Erickson was paid for things like travel expenses, wage loss, and medical necessities, the use of her body for the development of another person害羞草研究所檚 child was totally free of charge: she did it simply because she could and it was a nice thing to do.
After their December 1016 visit in Las Vegas, Erickson began the process of getting ready to become a surrogate, which included all sorts of medical testing, losing 40 pounds, and taking medications that send most women on an unexpected hormonal rollercoaster.
But on August 16, 2017, it was all worth it when Erickson travelled back to Vegas and the five-day embryo that was transferred into her uterus and implanted.
Traditional surrogacy typically involves the surrogate害羞草研究所檚 egg being fertilized either by intrauterine insemination or in vetro fertilization, but in this case, Erickson had no biological connection to her surrogacy: the baby was conceived through the use of an egg donor and Ca帽adas害羞草研究所檚 sperm.
害羞草研究所淭his pregnancy was different (than my others),害羞草研究所� said Erickson. 害羞草研究所淭he conversations I害羞草研究所檇 have with her were different than what I had while pregnant (with my sons).害羞草研究所� Instead of talking to her belly about wanting to meet or about dreams for the future, Erickson said she害羞草研究所檇 say things like, 害羞草研究所淵our daddy is so excited to meet you!害羞草研究所�
This pregnancy was also different in that she was contractually bound to abide by the wishes of Ca帽adas. For example, while she had no intention of drinking or smoking during the pregnancy, she could have faced legal consequences had she done so.
Nevertheless, Erickson害羞草研究所檚 pregnancy continued without a hitch and was a success, and after labouring for 40 hours, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl: Cloe Castell贸 Ca帽adas.
害羞草研究所淚t was my day that I害羞草研究所檓 more happy than in my life,害羞草研究所� said Ca帽adas. 害羞草研究所淚t was my best day.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚t was an incredibly rewarding experience,害羞草研究所� Erickson added, said smiling at Cloe. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 just happy it all worked out.害羞草研究所�
And although Ca帽adas will be returning to Spain with Cloe at the end of May, this isn害羞草研究所檛 the end for he and Erickson, as the two have made a lasting connection and plan on keeping in contact.
害羞草研究所淛osep wants Cloe to know her birth story,害羞草研究所� said Erickson. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e family now. I feel like she害羞草研究所檚 my niece and we害羞草研究所檒l always have that.害羞草研究所�
Sarah.Gawdin@theprogress.com
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